Unless Erik has alter egos posting here, I didn't have any problems with his comments. I find the idea that men and women are automatically equal participants on a list like this a bit naive, but it's not offensive.
On Wed, Mar 16, 2011 at 1:48 PM, Laura Hale <laura@fanhistory.com> wrote:
>[...]
> Erik's comment made me feel decidedly uncomfortable. On a list dedicated toI would like to hear more from other women here on your impressions of
> helping increase the female participation rates on Wikipedia, Erik basically
> said: WOMENS! THEY IS DISCRIMINATING AGAINST ME! If I went to some women's
> communities and I posted Erik's comment (and comments of other male posters)
> with the context of these comments being said on a list dedicated to
> increasing female participation rates...
>
> ... well, you'd potentially have a mob involved. This effort? It would
> appear extremely sexist. (The large male involvement, the defensiveness of
> men regaridng their participation contribute to this image.) That these
> sexist comments are coming from the Deputy Director of WMF? It makes this
> worst because it is sexism coming from inside the institution.
>
> If you and Erik want to belong, that's great. It should be purely in
> support roles: Women say they are doing this project and need help. WMF
> officials step in and say we can help this way. If this was the general
> mode of male participation on the list, of specific support offered in
> response to specific requests, male involvement would be less problematic.
and responses to Erik's comments.
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